Live Stats (for GVSU's final three matches of the weekend)

For the second consecutive weekend, the Grand Valley State volleyball team will be on the road and taking on four non-conference opponents in a two-day span early in the 2016 season. This Friday and Saturday (Sept. 9-10), the Lakers will visit California, Pa. to take part in the Vulcan Invitational before starting GLIAC play next weekend.
 
At the Ferris State Invitational last weekend in Big Rapids, Grand Valley State got off to a good start with a 3-0 sweep of Minnesota Crookston on Friday morning (Sept. 2). The Lakers had an extremely tough schedule the rest of the weekend, as GVSU fell to #10 Minnesota Duluth (3-1), #21 Winona State (3-1), and #20 Cal State San Bernardino (3-2).
 
All three GVSU losses last weekend came to teams ranked in the AVCA Top-25; those teams have all moved inside the top-15 this week, as Minnesota Duluth jumped to the #4 team in the country, Winona State improved to #13, and Cal State San Bernardino is up to #15 in Division II. Combined, the Lakers' four opponents last weekend went 14-3, with the three ranked teams finishing the tournament with a 12-1 record.
 
Grand Valley State's competition at the Vulcan Invitational this weekend is a little less imposing; the four Laker opponents are a combined 8-7 overall, although California (PA) is 3-1, while Winston-Salem State is 3-0. GVSU will face both of those teams on Saturday, while each Friday opponent (Adelphi, Davis & Elkins) went 1-3 at their opening tournament last weekend.
 
Despite the 1-3 start to the season, the Lakers had some solid individual performances. Sophomore Staci Brower - the reigning GLIAC Freshman of the Year - recorded 21 total blocks (most in the GLIAC) and was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Ferris State Invitational. Her 1.31 blocks per set is good for second in the league after one weekend.
 
Freshman libero Sydney Benchley also had a productive weekend, posting 65 digs and 4.06 digs per set, which place her fourth and fifth in the conference, respectively. Benchley's six service aces are also seventh-most of any player. Classmate Kendall Yerkes picked up 56 digs (eighth in the league), while her 41 kills are 14th-best. Yerkes also notched three consecutive double-doubles (kills and digs) to close the tournament, including 14 kills and 18 digs against Cal State San Bernardino.
 
Even with a youthful team - the Lakers started three freshmen and two sophomores in their opening match - and playing quality opponents, GVSU ranks first in the league in total digs (274), second in digs per set (17.13), and third in solo blocks (10).
 
The only upperclassman that started last weekend was junior setter Katie Olson, who delivered 115 assists and picked up 39 digs. Freshman Jayci Suseland notched 32 kills in her first four collegiate matches, good for second-most on the Lakers. Sophomores Shannon Winicki (25 kills, five blocks) and Brooke Smith (46 digs, 20 kills) also had solid opening-weekend performances at the Ferris State Invitational.
 
Here is a look at the Lakers' four opponents this weekend at the Vulcan Invitational in California, Pa.:
 
Adelphi - Friday (Sept. 9), 12:00 p.m.
The Panthers – after finishing 27-5 in 2015 – went 1-3 last weekend at the Shark Invitational in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., hosted by Nova Southeastern. Adelphi defeated Arkansas Monticello before falling to Nova Southeastern, Saint Leo, and Lynn. GVSU and Adelphi have only met once in series history; the Lakers topped AU 3-0 on Sept. 6, 2013 at a season-opening tournament in Allendale.
 
Senior outside hitter Melissa Rigo owns a team-high 61 kills, 40 digs, and 10 blocks, while fellow senior Mandy Stanislovaitis has recorded 50 kills and 27 digs this year. Sophomore middle blocker Madison Canestrari tallied 20 blocks and 23 kills last weekend. Adelphi advanced to the East Region semifinals last season.
 
Davis & Elkins - Friday (Sept. 9), 3:00 p.m.
Participating at the Cavalier Classic in North Canton, Ohio – hosted by GLIAC member Walsh – the Senators of Davis & Elkins went 1-3. The team's lone victory came in a five-set win over Fairmont State, while Davis & Elkins lost to Walsh, Bellarmine, and Urbana – with two of those losses coming in 3-0 sweeps.
 
Elizabeth Estes led the Senators last weekend, as the senior outside hitter provided 53 kills, 19 digs, and nine blocks, while junior setter Zoe Craig handed out 118 assists and picked up 40 digs. Sophomore middle blocker Charisse Mitchell owns a team-best 13 blocks to go with 16 kills. GVSU and Davis & Elkins – who went 15-16 and advanced to the GMAC semifinals last year - have never met on the court prior to this weekend.
 
California (PA) - Saturday (Sept. 10), 10:00 a.m.
The host school, California (PA) enjoyed a 3-1 weekend at the Lock Haven Tournament in Lock Haven, Pa., with the only loss coming to GLIAC school Ashland in four sets. The Vulcans did defeat Stonehill (3-1) and swept both Shepherd and Charleston to clinch the 3-1 trip.
 
Finishing just below the .500 mark last year (16-17, PSAC quarterfinals), Cal (PA) is led by senior outside hitter Danielle Hayes and her 66 kills, .310 hitting percentage, and 29 digs. Two sophomore middle blockers also had productive opening weekends, as Lois van Schalk (26 kills, seven blocks) and Seairra Barrett (26 kills, .346 attack clip, six blocks) played well last week.
 
GVSU and Cal (PA) have only met twice and both meetings came in the 1990's. The Lakers won both contests: a 3-0 victory on Sept. 28, 1991 and a 3-1 win on Oct. 14, 1994.
 
Winston-Salem State - Saturday (Sept. 10), 1:00 p.m.
The Rams posted a perfect 3-0 mark at the Spike Out Hunger Challenge on their home floor in Winston-Salem, NC. Two of the victories – over Mount Olive and Kutztown – were five-set marathons, while Winston-Salem State also swept Slippery Rock last weekend. In 2015, the Rams went 22-8 and lost in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Region Tournament to Wheeling Jesuit, the eventual Division II National Champions.
 
Sophomore right side Mia Herrod put together a team-high 38 kills and added 11 blocks last weekend in three matches. Two seniors also played well to start the year, as outside hitter Teynia Shepherd recorded 33 kills and 33 digs, while middle blocker Jocelyn Mills tallied 25 kills and 19 blocks. Similar to Davis & Elkins, the Lakers have also never faced Winston-Salem State before.
 
Grand Valley State will stay on the road to begin GLIAC play next weekend (Sept. 16-17), as the Lakers travel to face Hillsdale and Northwood. The following Saturday (Sept. 24), GVSU will finally get a chance to play on its home court; the Lakers host Walsh at 4:00 p.m. in the 2016 home opener.